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What is a senior director of information & technology and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Matthew Liotine Ph.D.

The senior director of information and technology is also known as the IT director who oversees the company's IT infrastructure. This role involves many responsibilities, including managing teams, reducing security risks, and maintaining systems and operations.

The IT director may also develop goals for the organization and find ways to achieve them. In large organizations, they may oversee many small teams with individual managers. In this scenario, the day-to-day duties may include meeting with Junior managers, reviewing performance, and communicating with teams in other departments.

The IT director may oversee the implementation of new software and the elimination of security risks. The director may also be actively involved in the hiring of new staff for the IT department.

To become an IT director, you need a bachelors' degree in computer engineering or related fields, although advanced degrees may be preferred. You also need a minimum of 5 years' relevant work experience.

What general advice would you give to a senior director of information & technology?

Matthew Liotine Ph.D.Matthew Liotine Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Clinical Professor and Director of Master of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management, University of Illinois at Chicago

Most employers tell me that soft skills are equally, if not more important, than technical skills or domain knowledge. This translates into external/internal customer-facing skills, such as communication, team collaboration, writing, presentation, problem-solving, and being resourceful. (Many graduates overlook writing as a vital skill, but they fail to realize that in the course of their jobs, they will likely be required to write lots of memos and tons of emails.) The need to perfect these skills within the confines of a virtual world has become even more challenging and amplified with COVID. I teach in the information systems discipline, and when you view student resumes, many people look the same on paper. The soft skills will make a candidate stand out head and shoulders above the rest. That's why the candidate should pay attention to the screening interviews that they will undergo during the hiring process since employers will use these interviews to vet these skills.
ScoreSenior Director Of Information & TechnologyUS Average
Salary
9.0

Avg. Salary $153,603

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.6

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%

Asian 12.68%

Black or African American 6.63%

Hispanic or Latino 9.95%

Unknown 5.19%

White 65.34%

Gender

female 15.40%

male 84.60%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Senior director of information & technology career paths

Key steps to become a senior director of information & technology

  1. Explore senior director of information & technology education requirements

    Most common senior director of information & technology degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.6 %

    Master's

    18.8 %

    Associate

    7.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior director of information & technology skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Cloud6.74%
    Project Management6.43%
    Architecture6.15%
    Governance5.06%
    Digital Transformation4.96%
  3. Complete relevant senior director of information & technology training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior directors of information & technology learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior director of information & technology based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior director of information & technology resumes.
  4. Gain additional senior director of information & technology certifications

    Senior director of information & technology certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior director of information & technology certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for senior directors of information & technology include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research senior director of information & technology duties and responsibilities

    • Lead budget meetings to ensure OpEx forecasts are to plan, and make changes as needed to meet the objectives.
    • Direct and manage all phases of ERP program including additional functional applications.
    • Lead selection and implementation of SharePoint for corporate document management and collaboration.
    • Design and administer a comprehensive strategic vision to achieve EMR meaningful use.
  6. Get senior director of information & technology experience

    Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a senior director of information & technology. The most common roles before becoming a senior director of information & technology include information technology director, information technology manager team lead and director.
  7. Prepare your senior director of information & technology resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior director of information & technology resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior director of information & technology resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior director of information & technology resume templates

    Build a professional senior director of information & technology resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior director of information & technology resume.
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    Senior Director Of Information & Technology Resume
    Senior Director Of Information & Technology Resume
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    Senior Director Of Information & Technology Resume
    Senior Director Of Information & Technology Resume
  8. Apply for senior director of information & technology jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior director of information & technology job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior director of information & technology job

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Average senior director of information & technology salary

The average senior director of information & technology salary in the United States is $153,603 per year or $74 per hour. Senior director of information & technology salaries range between $104,000 and $224,000 per year.

Average senior director of information & technology salary
$153,603 Yearly
$73.85 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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